Friday, June 5, 2015

Sizzling Fireworks Display Marks The Official Opening Of 2015 Singapore SEA Games

SINGAPORE, June 5 (Bernama) -- Singapore's skyline was showered with a spectacular fireworks display as the 2015 SEA Games were officially opened in a joyful and colourful occasion at the newly-built National Stadium in Singapore Sports Hub, tonight.

The ceremony kicked off with a musical performance by Singapore's Armed Forces which formed the words 'SEA GAMES' before the city-state national anthem 'Majulah Singapura' was played following the arrival of Singapore President, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife, Mary Chee Bee Kiang.

The colourful and mesmerising cultural showcase combining the Malay, Chinese and Indian races involving almost 1,400 volunteers then took the centre stage which potrayed the uniqueness of the Republic's multi-racial society and also its flora and fauna.

Nila, the official mascot for the games, was slowly brought to the 55,000-seater National Stadium's ground before the parade of athletes from 11 participating countries marched into the venue.

This was then followed by the speech from Singapore's Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Lawrence Wong who is also the 2015 SEA Games Organising Committee Chairman before the SEA Games Federation (SGF) and also the games flag were raised.

Singapore's netball player, Micky Lin and rugby player, Mohammad Azhar Yusoff jointly led the oath-taking ceremony followed by a 14-minute 3D with a shimmering LED light showcasing five different elements to reflect the games' theme 'Celebrate the Extraordinary'.

The games torch was then jointly lit by Singaporean football legend, Fandi Ahmad and his son, footballer Irfan Fandi at Stadium Roar near the National Stadium before another sizzling fireworks display around Singapore Sports Hub wrapped up the momentous occasion.

Malaysia had already clinched a gold medal, a silver and also two bronze medals in the pre-opening of the games which got underway on May 29.

The gold medal came from Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi and Lee Yhing Huey in the Duet Free Routine synchronized swimming; silver in syncronised swimming team event and also the bronze by Ho Ying/Lee Rou You in table tennis (women's doubles) and Yu Peng Kean in fencing (men's individual sabre).

In the 2013 Games in Myanmar, Malaysia won 43 gold, 38 silver and 77 bronze medals to finish fifth.

This is the fourth time that Singapore hosted the biennial games after three previous editions -- 1973, 1983 and 1993 and it was held in conjuction with their 50th anniversary as an independent nation.